
Scott Anderson's career highlights:
- Baystreet Grill (Edison, NJ)
- Teresa Caffe (Princeton, NJ)
- Nova Terra (New Brunswick, NJ)
- Mediterra (Denver, CO and Princeton, NJ)
- Les Copains (Princeton, NJ)
- Ryland Inn (Whitehouse Station, NJ)
- Lawrenceville Inn (Lawrenceville, NJ)
- elements (Princeton, NJ)
Scott Anderson
Chef Owner
"Opening a restaurant isn't new. But opening a restaurant that aims to be new over and over is new," says the smiling, engaging Chef Owner Scott Anderson, about elements, the restaurant he and Stephen Distler opened October of 2008 on Route 206 in Princeton, NJ.
The name is significant: the restaurant will draw on diverse resources, but will look at each element of its palette for direction. Local produce as well as worldwide cooking styles will influence his work. "It's almost like you're listening to the ingredients," says Scott. For this reason, a meal at elements will always be an event.
True to the ingredients, and to its name, elements will feature simple-to-understand chords of flavors constantly reinterpreted. The chef wants to remain open to inspiration and the mood of the moment. A green salad with citrus would not be exactly the same twice, nor would it appear the same way every time you order it. The best analogy is that of a jazz musician who constantly riffs on melodies to keep each experience fresh. Instead, true to the ingredients, and to its name, elements will feature simple-to-understand chords of flavors constantly reinterpreted.
We call it "Interpretative American Cuisine," because we think of our dishes as canvases and paint what feels right, while staying grounded in the essence of the ingredients. The Chef is giving similar creative latitude to the team in the kitchen.
Press
- Opinionated About Dining | Top 100 US Restaurants
- elements ranked #23
- elements ranked number 23 in Opinionated About Dining's Top 100 US Restaurants list.
(posted on 03/25/2013)
- Scott Anderson named to 2013 James Beard Foundation Award semi-finalists
- for Best Chef in mid-atlantic region category
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(posted on 02/19/2013)
- Scott Anderson is the Archetype for Jersey's Young and Hungry Chefs
- Inside New Jersey
- From foie gras to funnel cakes, the multicourse, hours-long chefs-table tasting menu at elements in Princeton solidifies this restaurant’s status — as if you had reason to doubt — as the most significant restaurant in the state.
Read rest of the article here
(posted on 02/08/2013)
- Monday 6/24 Chef Dominique Crenn & Designer John Shedd
- On Monday, June 24, Chef Dominique Crenn of the two Michelin starred Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, CA will work in conjunction with local New Jersey pottery designer John Shedd to produce a memorable seven-course tasting event. Shedd, who regularly creates custom service ware for elements, is designing a bowl that will aesthetically complement [...]
- Friday 5/17 Chef Matthias Merges & Cultured Pickle Shop
- On Friday, May 17th Chef Matthias Merges of Yusho in Chicago, IL will cook a seven-course meal with Chef Anderson, utilizing products from the Cultured Pickle Shop in Berkeley, CA created especially for the occasion. Pickling gurus Alex Hozven and Kevin Farley will spend weeks working closely with the two chefs to develop ingredients [...]
- Saturday March 9th at Aubergine in Carmel, CA
- Saturday, March 9, 2013, 6 pm Rediscovering Coastal Cuisine Esteemed Chefs from around the country join the team at Aubergine in Carmel, CA to celebrate and explore the biodiversity of the central California coast. Featuring Chefs Scott Anderson – Elements, New Jersey Justin Cogley – Aubergine, California John Shields – Washington DC James Syhabout – Commis, [...]


